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A jam submission

The CourtyardView game page

First-person exploration game where you seek nature to restore power.
Submitted by Danny Cherry (@dannycherr) — 4 hours, 13 minutes before the deadline
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The Courtyard's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Theme#2883.2664.000
Originality#4172.9603.625
Presentation#5182.4493.000
Fun#5962.0412.500

Ranked from 8 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

How does your game represent "Power"?
The player has a battery that recharges when in nature. The battery slowly depletes when the player must leave nature to navigate a maze and escape.

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Comments

(1 edit) (+1)

Great game!

I loved the tense feeling of getting lost in the maze and the constant battle against the clock to make it back to the courtyard. The courtyard itself is incredibly memorable and tactile—it became a mental anchor for me as I desperately fought my way back to safety. It felt like an urban oasis, oddly nostalgic and deeply comforting.

The music was also fantastic, isolating in a strangely soothing way.

Developer

Too kind <3 Thanks for playing brother

Submitted(+1)

Great vibe. While I like the idea of the outdoors recharging you, I think the current layout and lack of landmarks in the maze mean hat I'm basically recharging outside then exploring the map until I die and restart. I appreciated the one shortcut, and think you could have added more little recharge points within the mazes too. Really well done, I enjoyed my playthrough :)

Developer(+1)

Thanks for playing and for the feedback! Yeah, I originally had recharge points in mind as well or to plant seeds and expand the courtyard but had to scale it back due to time

Submitted(+1)

Love the vibe with the music and art direction! Feels like exploring the mazes in Breath of the Wild. 

Developer

Thanks for playing and for the comment!

Submitted(+1)

The theming was super on point, and I like the detailed lighting you managed (the sun being visible through the tree leaves but not the trunks, for example.
Did run into a bug with the left side’s cube giving me access to the exit without a second one involved, but the mazes were pretty well built so it was tight to get back safely on some runs.

Developer

Appreciate the feedback and thank you for playing! Will definitely look into that bug, thanks for letting me know

Submitted(+1)

There is something here!  I think you have a really good control over atmosphere.  Reminds me of Pikmin 2 caves and the 'jellyfloat pool' ost.  I think the increased speed and motion blur with more energy, and the slow stiffness as you run out is great.  The trees remind me a bit of Fatum Batula.  Leaning into the atmosphere and having more time to do the UI and I'd unironically like an exploration game through surreal environments with this vibe- beyond just a game jam.  Good luck on the jam!

Developer(+1)

Thanks for the feedback and for playing! That Pikmin music is great ha I loved the first two but never managed to beat them

Submitted(+1)

I love the graphics so much. 

Developer

Very kind, thank you!

(+1)

i like the atmosphere

Developer

Thank you and thanks for playing!